Qatar says Hamas has given a “positive response” to its Gaza ceasefire proposal, warning the crisis will worsen as Israel delays its reply while preparing a new offensive.
Qatar has renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas agreed to a proposal mediated by Doha and Cairo, warning that failure to secure a truce would deepen the crisis facing Palestinians under Israel’s ongoing genocide.
Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed during a weekly press briefing that Hamas had accepted the latest terms.
“What I can tell you is that we have a positive response from Hamas. That positive response, according to what we know, is almost all that was agreed by Israel in previous iterations of these talks,” Al Ansari said. He added: “If this [ceasefire] proposal fails, the crisis will exacerbate.”
The 60-day proposal includes a temporary halt to military operations, humanitarian aid access into Gaza, and the release of half of the 50 remaining Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
According to Reuters, the deal envisions the release of 200 Palestinians held in Israeli jails in return for 10 living captives and 18 deceased.
Despite Hamas’ approval, Israel has yet to formally respond.
A senior Israeli official told AFP that the government is still demanding the release of all captives before agreeing to end the war.
Reports in Israeli and international media said a response could come by Friday, though Israeli leaders continue to prepare for a new assault on Gaza City.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has authorised a plan to mobilise 60,000 reservists for a full military occupation of the territory.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had joined the latest round of negotiations with Hamas, while Washington’s envoy Steve Witkoff was invited back to the talks after previously pulling out.
Abdelatty added that “the ball is now in Israel’s court.”
Since the war began, Israel has killed at least 62,004 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority women and children, according to the Strip’s health ministry.
Thousands more remain buried under rubble from relentless bombardment. The ministry also reports that 266 Palestinians, including 112 children, have died from deliberate starvation caused by Israel’s blockade, which halted aid deliveries on 2 March.
Qatar, which has long mediated between Hamas and Israel, continues to stress that a ceasefire is the only way forward. “We’re not there yet,” Al Ansari said, but he warned that prolonging the genocide would only worsen the catastrophe for Gaza’s besieged population of 2.1 million.
